Sofia Hyland in Christian Siriano
"If its important enough to you, you will find a way. If its not, you will find an excuse"
September 19, 2011
Emmy fashion. The reddish hue's are a great complement to the season change- close out the summer and embark upon fall. So romantic and feminine and fiesty all at once. Nothing like the confidence a woman exudes in a red dress.
My favorite... Nina Dobrev in a Donna Karan gown
Kerry Washington in Zuhair Murad
Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang. And this woman is simply gorgeous
Lea Michele in Marchesa
September 17, 2011
...and you are my greatest blessing.
"A distinct schism.
The angst bubbles through perpetually widening crevices.
Desistance of torment
Emancipate my soul
Elated exuberance, bliss, its my prerogative.
Alas, a delirium of euphoria"
"With you, I am me.
And you are my greatest blessing."
September 16, 2011
Contemplative...
"One day you will take my heart completely and make it more fiery than a dragon. Your eyelashes will write on my heart the poem that could never come from the pen of a poet." Rumi
FAIL...haha
2. Koi Koi Sushi
Firstly, the lunch prices are UNBEATABLE. For this platter of 6 maki rolls of salmon, california and spicy tuna, a total of $9.50!
Secondly, if you know remotely anything about me, I am hardly picky about anything especially concerning food. If it looks edible I will try it! My one exception is with sushi. I need it to taste fresh. My rare, and highly-out-of-the-ordinary sense of particularity sprints into full gear like Usain Bolt. I have had salmonella food poisoning from raw fish before, and I dont plan on ever spending another 24 hours cuddling with the porcelain bowl puking bile and carbonated gingerale.
That being said....this sushi is really palatable and almost sea-caught fresh :)
3. Viva La Juicy
Love love love
4. High waist, wide leg pants
Just bought a pair from H&M around the $50 range, what a steal for this classy style. These pants are romantic and such a fashion wonder. Loving this new trend.
The Limited: $75
The Limited: $98
Hugo Boss: $295
5. My dad :)
My dad is phenomenal despite all of his quirks, rather in spite of his quirks. My friends are a testament to how awkward he is!!! SERIOUSLY. I love him regardless. I feel treasured, he kept my art work from 6th grade and framed it!
I am <3'ing
1. NARS blush in orgasm - $25. This is more of a sweetheart pink shade so it complements most skin tones. Blending is really easy because of the consistency of the powder. That being said, it isnt a loose powder and doesn't mask the cheek with a superficial chalky appearance. The gold speckles are FABULOUS, and add an impeccable luminosity better than any other highlighter-only product I have tried. One sweep with a large kabuki brush or blush brush is just enough. It is quite pigemented, yet sheer enough not the stain the cheek with clown-like streaks.
Firstly, the lunch prices are UNBEATABLE. For this platter of 6 maki rolls of salmon, california and spicy tuna, a total of $9.50!
Secondly, if you know remotely anything about me, I am hardly picky about anything especially concerning food. If it looks edible I will try it! My one exception is with sushi. I need it to taste fresh. My rare, and highly-out-of-the-ordinary sense of particularity sprints into full gear like Usain Bolt. I have had salmonella food poisoning from raw fish before, and I dont plan on ever spending another 24 hours cuddling with the porcelain bowl puking bile and carbonated gingerale.
That being said....this sushi is really palatable and almost sea-caught fresh :)
3. Viva La Juicy
Love love love
4. High waist, wide leg pants
Just bought a pair from H&M around the $50 range, what a steal for this classy style. These pants are romantic and such a fashion wonder. Loving this new trend.
The Limited: $75The Limited: $98Hugo Boss: $2955. My dad :)
My dad is phenomenal despite all of his quirks, rather in spite of his quirks. My friends are a testament to how awkward he is!!! SERIOUSLY. I love him regardless. I feel treasured, he kept my art work from 6th grade and framed it!
September 15, 2011
September 13, 2011
So Magical
Restaurant highlight
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending an intimate wedding ceremony at the Morrison House in Alexandria Virginia. This desert was decadent and WONDERMOUS! The brownie was moist and warm, and filled with a chocolatey center. Fresh cream, powdered sugar and fruit made it feel like a different bite each time. WOW I can't even begin to explain how well the textures and flavors amalgamated with each other to ooze out a little taste of heaven. It was magical...
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” ~Roald Dahl
There's a gene that predisposes laziness... absolutely fascinating
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2034159/Gene-makes-couch-potato-Scientists-discover-energy--dont.html
Such a sucker for windows
I am so hearting this:
"Feel my love feel my soul, Its so magical...
We are one, the moon and the sun"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WjUN9kDfC4
Reminiscing mosaic days
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending an intimate wedding ceremony at the Morrison House in Alexandria Virginia. This desert was decadent and WONDERMOUS! The brownie was moist and warm, and filled with a chocolatey center. Fresh cream, powdered sugar and fruit made it feel like a different bite each time. WOW I can't even begin to explain how well the textures and flavors amalgamated with each other to ooze out a little taste of heaven. It was magical...
There's a gene that predisposes laziness... absolutely fascinating
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2034159/Gene-makes-couch-potato-Scientists-discover-energy--dont.html
Such a sucker for windows
I am so hearting this:
"Feel my love feel my soul, Its so magical...
We are one, the moon and the sun"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WjUN9kDfC4
Reminiscing mosaic days
September 12, 2011
Nostalgia
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/09/12/kenya.fire/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Rest in Peace...
Tragedy in Kenya.
Keep them in your prayers
Rest in Peace...
Tragedy in Kenya.
Keep them in your prayers
September 11, 2011
Recipe highlight...
In our highly dynamic bustling lives, entertaining is becoming more and more arduous. Juggling careers, school work, activities, service, families....and errrrrrrr a social life? Sending a multitude of emails just to synchronize schedules is laborious! Finally, the date is set, everyone is coming over BUT you sure aren't going to be spending countless hours slaving away at your stove right?
Heres my incredibly simple take on spinakopita, meditteranean orzo and a really awesome salad dressing. The ingredients for all three recipes are similar. This means, your grocery shopping will be a piece of cake. Trick your guests into thinking you toiled your day away, little miss paula deen...
Heres my incredibly simple take on spinakopita, meditteranean orzo and a really awesome salad dressing. The ingredients for all three recipes are similar. This means, your grocery shopping will be a piece of cake. Trick your guests into thinking you toiled your day away, little miss paula deen...
Salad: Spinach leaves, grape tomatoes, sliced strawberries, walnuts, cucumbers....and whatever else you'd like. (personal suggestions: Goat cheese, avocado, mangoes!!) The aesthetic appeal from the splash of colors makes this even more scrumptious!
My secret super duper balsamic dressing: 6 tablespoons Balsamic vinaigrette, 1 teaspoon of EVOO (yes i will quote Rachael Ray my hero...evoo= extra virgin olive oil), 1 pinch salt, 1/2 tsp ground pepper (or less...up to your taste specifictions), 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 tspn of fresh lime juice, (now here's the secret part dun dun dun...) 1-2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed orange juice! Whisk it all together in no particular order and TADA!!!
*Spinakopita, my version.
Buttery, flaky, wholesome and entirely delish. This appetizer is a no fail, even with the most minimal culinary skills.
1 package of frozen/thawed chopped spinach
1 cup feta cheese
EVOO
1/2 stick butter
Salt
Pepper
2 tbsp of fresh squeezed lime
1 pckg of Phyllo pastry sheets - I like the pillsbury ones, but whichever works for you
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp of chopped parsley or oregano or dill (optional)
1 diced onion
Crushed red peppers
Process: Preheat oven to 350. In a seperate pan, saute onions and garlic with melted butter. When onion is tender and beginning to brown, place thawed spinach in pan. REMEMBER to squeeze out ALL the water from the spinach before adding it to the pan....the excess water is an absolute no-no. Once the onions turn golden-brown and the spinach begins to wilt, add oregano, parsley, dill and feta cheese and allow to cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, lime, 1 tsp of pepper and crushed red peppers to taste specifications.
Oil or pam a baking pan, lay 1 sheet of phyllo and add one even layer of cooked spinach mixture, place another layer of phyllo and add more spinach mixture. The last layer should be oiled lightly with EVOO. Allow to bake for 40 minutes until golden brown.
Mediterannean Orzo pasta
Ingredients:
1 box orzo
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp pepper
2 tbspn lime juice
1 tsp salt
EVOO
Cucumbers, grape tomatoes
1 cup olives (if you like them)
1 small diced onion
1 cup feta cheese
Herbs: Your choice of fresh dill, parsley, basil, oregano (1/2 cup of any combination)
Process:
To pot of boiling water add 2 tbsp EVOO and 2 tbsp salt. Add orzo and cook as directed per package. REMEMBER, orzo cooks much faster than any other type of pasta so be sure not to over cook, because the surface area is much smaller so it boils much faster. El-dente is best :)
In separate pan add 2 tbsp EVOO, 1 tbsp minced garlic, onions. Once garlic browns slightly add tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, herbs, pepper, olives, lime juice on very low heat.
Drain the orzo and add the veggie mixture and toss. And....voila, there's your entree. In less than 15 minutes. Can be served hot or cold. Effortless meal with a pizazz of flavor.
My secret super duper balsamic dressing: 6 tablespoons Balsamic vinaigrette, 1 teaspoon of EVOO (yes i will quote Rachael Ray my hero...evoo= extra virgin olive oil), 1 pinch salt, 1/2 tsp ground pepper (or less...up to your taste specifictions), 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 tspn of fresh lime juice, (now here's the secret part dun dun dun...) 1-2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed orange juice! Whisk it all together in no particular order and TADA!!!
*Spinakopita, my version.
Buttery, flaky, wholesome and entirely delish. This appetizer is a no fail, even with the most minimal culinary skills.
1 package of frozen/thawed chopped spinach
1 cup feta cheese
EVOO
1/2 stick butter
Salt
Pepper
2 tbsp of fresh squeezed lime
1 pckg of Phyllo pastry sheets - I like the pillsbury ones, but whichever works for you
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp of chopped parsley or oregano or dill (optional)
1 diced onion
Crushed red peppers
Process: Preheat oven to 350. In a seperate pan, saute onions and garlic with melted butter. When onion is tender and beginning to brown, place thawed spinach in pan. REMEMBER to squeeze out ALL the water from the spinach before adding it to the pan....the excess water is an absolute no-no. Once the onions turn golden-brown and the spinach begins to wilt, add oregano, parsley, dill and feta cheese and allow to cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, lime, 1 tsp of pepper and crushed red peppers to taste specifications.
Oil or pam a baking pan, lay 1 sheet of phyllo and add one even layer of cooked spinach mixture, place another layer of phyllo and add more spinach mixture. The last layer should be oiled lightly with EVOO. Allow to bake for 40 minutes until golden brown.
Mediterannean Orzo pasta
Ingredients:
1 box orzo
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp pepper
2 tbspn lime juice
1 tsp salt
EVOO
Cucumbers, grape tomatoes
1 cup olives (if you like them)
1 small diced onion
1 cup feta cheese
Herbs: Your choice of fresh dill, parsley, basil, oregano (1/2 cup of any combination)
Process:
To pot of boiling water add 2 tbsp EVOO and 2 tbsp salt. Add orzo and cook as directed per package. REMEMBER, orzo cooks much faster than any other type of pasta so be sure not to over cook, because the surface area is much smaller so it boils much faster. El-dente is best :)
In separate pan add 2 tbsp EVOO, 1 tbsp minced garlic, onions. Once garlic browns slightly add tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, herbs, pepper, olives, lime juice on very low heat.
Drain the orzo and add the veggie mixture and toss. And....voila, there's your entree. In less than 15 minutes. Can be served hot or cold. Effortless meal with a pizazz of flavor.
September 7, 2011
"Each night I imagine my heart is a spinning ball of light that shines brighter and spins faster the more I think about it. So I can give that light to you in the morning" I wrote this for you.
An ode to the awesomeness of the iPhone 4 HDR camera
An ode to the awesomeness of the iPhone 4 HDR camera
If you have had the unfortunate adventure of sharing a meal with me, I am certain that at some point you noticed how my food inevitably finds its way on my clothing! Fortunately... I have mastered the art of stain removal through trial and errr.....failure? and finally found my magic. This process works its wonders on even the most pigmented elements embedded on your white linen pants.
1. As soon as those pants/shirt/skirt comes off, soak in HOT, really HOT water for 5 minutes
2. Grab your awesome spray n wash and Spray the area with 5 bountiful squirts. Be frivolous with your usage of this.
3. Thirty minutes later, soak your clothing in hot water for another 5 minutes and lightly hand wash.
4. Finally hand wash with clorox bleach for colors. NOT BLEACH. Bleach will shade your white with a hue of yellow. This, my friends is MAGIC in a bottle...and is your saving grace, so USE it well so you dont have to go spend another 100 bucks replacing that dress
In light of all this, kindly dismiss the ancient rule of not wearing white after labor day. Damn it, its still fashionable and highly trendy. Wear white, and own it, cuz its beautiful! And yes, I broke the rule and wore all white yesterday so for those of you - COUGH COUGH u know who u are-, who wanna comply with every age old rule in the unwritten handbook...yes I AM going to wear white.
Lastly, SONG of the day:
September 3, 2011
The essentials
Three types of earrings every woman should own...
1. The hoops (Silver or gold, your pick)
Along the same lines, if you are 8, 18, or 80 a pearl set of earrings will weather you through any adventure! Perfect for a high school graduation, elementary school science fair reception, or great grand kid's 1st birthday party... The versatility of these jewels are marked by an unequivocal elegance.
NOTE: Wear your earrings last after getting dressed, dolling up with your hair & makeup shannanings, and spritzing yourself with your fragrances. Genuine pearls become dull with the slightest contact of alcohol based scents and hairsprays.
3. Diamond studs (cubic zirconia will fit the bill for this...)
Stunning! Now, if you are lucky enough to be donning a pair of 1 ct diamond studs, that in and of itself IS the va-va-voom effect. Cubic Zirconia with a sterling silver base is just as classy and affordable. The diamond (or diamond-looking) stud compliments EVERY outfit and thats why it made my the list of ultimate earrings.
Quote of the day:
1. The hoops (Silver or gold, your pick)
I love gold...come on which girl doesn't right? haha, but i'm really picky with my shade of gold -- In the event that it's not real gold, it MUST look authentic. Im averted by the tarnished brassy look. Yes yes, sounds a little nit picky and strange, I have my quirks. HOWEVER, (I diverged far off topic) I really believe if you were to own one pair of earrings, the hoop is the QUINTESSENTIAL jewelry piece. It is classic, timeless, and an easy switch from day-to-night regardless of the occassion.
2. The pearl studs 
NOTE: Wear your earrings last after getting dressed, dolling up with your hair & makeup shannanings, and spritzing yourself with your fragrances. Genuine pearls become dull with the slightest contact of alcohol based scents and hairsprays.
3. Diamond studs (cubic zirconia will fit the bill for this...)
Quote of the day:
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish it's source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. it dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings." Anais Nin
Current song (kind of my obsession for the day):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHO1rRzeXt8
Artistic talent is sublime (I lack it so im in utmost admiration of the slightest bit). This entire family (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan especially) exemplifies musical geniosity in a whole other realm. Everyone has THAT song(s) that is indelibly etched into their core. The distant harmony of that tune heightens an emotion, any emotion - pain, happiness, anger, love - in a way that is embraced only by the soul and no words.
Current song (kind of my obsession for the day):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHO1rRzeXt8
Artistic talent is sublime (I lack it so im in utmost admiration of the slightest bit). This entire family (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan especially) exemplifies musical geniosity in a whole other realm. Everyone has THAT song(s) that is indelibly etched into their core. The distant harmony of that tune heightens an emotion, any emotion - pain, happiness, anger, love - in a way that is embraced only by the soul and no words.
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